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BALL CONTROL - La Conner's Lily Dougliss (in blue) squares off with a Providence Classical Christian player during the first half of the Lady Braves' 3-2 conference win at Whittaker Field Sept. 20.
La Conner's Lydia Grossglass (21) eludes a Providence Classical Christian defender to boot the ball downfield during second half action of the Lady Braves' 3-2 conference win at Whittaker Field on Sept. 20.
Lydia Grossglass and Bailey Smith combined for three first-half goals and the La Conner High School girls' soccer team withstood a late Providence Classical Christian rally to post a 3-2 NW2B/1B triumph at Whittaker Field Friday afternoon.
Smith delivered a goal 14 minutes into the contest to give La Conner an early lead. Grossglass then extended the hosts' advantage with two scores before intermission.
A senior, Grossglass scored with 7:45 left in the opening half off a free kick by Angie Pena, then found the net off a feed by Faith Jenkins in the final minute of the first stanza.
La Conner (2-1 overall; 1-0 in league) used its speed and depth – Braves head coach Maddie Huscher employed her entire roster – to control field position prior to the break.
La Conner continued pressing its advantage at the outset of the second half, forcing the PCC goalkeeper to make five saves in as many minutes.
"That goalie was really good," Smith acknowledged afterward.
PCC also caught a break late in the second half when a shot on goal by La Conner's Lily Dougliss off a pass from Grossglass veered wide right. Moments later, Dougliss, who displayed splendid dribbling and passing throughout, was upended by the Lady Highlanders keeper on a potential breakaway, one of numerous spills in an often physical, hard-fought match.
Pena nearly provided La Conner with an insurance score at the 7:20 mark but her free kick into a north wind sailed over the net.
The visitors averted a shutout when Sophie Hill scored with an elevated wind-aided perimeter shot.
PCC narrowed the margin to 1with a free kick goal mere seconds before the final whistle.
La Conner's stamina and ability to maintain a fast pace, mounting attacks for the entire 80-minute contest, was cited as a pivotal factor.
"Our conditioning is paying off," Huscher said in her post-match remarks. "We were able to finish plays. I thought we did a great job of positioning, keeping the ball on their side of the field. That was incredible."
La Conner assistant coach Tawsha Carlson praised the team's passing, which was crisp and timely most of the afternoon.
The Braves resume action at 4 p.m. Friday with a non-league home match opposite 1A Nooksack Valley.
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